The special aide to the Sports Minister, Wonder Sitsofe Mandel, says the Ministry of Sports and Recreation will not protect anyone found to have engaged in wrongdoing in the ongoing investigation into an alleged visa scandal linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mandel said the law must take its course, adding that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) was already investigating the matter.
Speaking on Joy News, he insisted that anyone found to have unlawfully collected money, abused their position or benefited improperly from the arrangements would be held accountable.
“Whenever there is wrongdoing, the law must take its course, and the ministry is not shielding anybody,” he said.
“If anyone collected money unlawfully, the ministry will present that applicant. If anyone abused the office process or benefited improperly, the law will work. The law must work.”
The investigation centres on allegations involving approximately $623,000 in visa facilitation fees linked to arrangements for Ghanaian supporters and officials travelling to the 2026 World Cup.
The controversy has prompted scrutiny of the institutions and officials involved in coordinating Ghana’s participation in the tournament.
President John Mahama has suspended Yaw Ampofo Ankrah as Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) pending investigations into the allegations.
The suspension followed growing concerns about the reported visa arrangements and the circumstances surrounding the payments.
Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has called for the investigation to be extended to other officials it alleges were involved in the process.
It is demanding the removal of the Sports Minister and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), and says they should be prosecuted if found culpable.
The allegations have raised questions about the handling of visa facilitation arrangements connected to Ghana’s World Cup participation.
The CID investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the payments and determine whether any individuals or institutions breached the law.
